Beer tapping control mechanism



March 10, 1936.

w. BUIRK BEER TAPPING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1935 3 sheets-sheet 1 INVENTOR WILLIAM BUIRK.

ATT OW March 10, 1936. w. BUIRK 2,033,678

BEER TAPPING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed Ma 5, 1935 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 8 INVEN W\LL|A BUIRK.

ATTbRNEY March 10, 1936.

. w. BU |RK BEER TAPPING CONTROL MECHANISM Filed May 5, 1935 s Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WILUAM BUIRK.

AET'OW Patented Mar. 10, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT, OFFICE 2,033,678 .BEER. TAPPING CONTROL MEonANfsM William Buirk, St. Bernard, Ohio ApplicationMay 3, 1935, Serial No. 19,694

' 11 Claims. (01. 225-17) My invention relates to a new and useful mechanism for use in connection with dispensing draught beer and provides means for regulating and controlling the pressure applied to Under present conditions where more than one barrel is on tap, they are usually connected to the same supply line ofair or gas to create a pressure on the fluid to force the fluid up to 10 the dispensing faucet. The carbonation of the beer in the barrels varies and the same pressure applied to more than one barrel will cause the fluid from one barrel to flow properly with the desired collar of foam while the other will be flat or cause too much foam. With my improved device, which is an improvement over my co-pending application Serial No. 693,329, the pressure can be regulated on each barrel.

The object of my invention is to provide 20 means for automatically closing the inlet part when the pressure on the fluid reaches a predetermined point. A further object is to provide a valve in the air line to the tap which is so constructed to permit closing of the air inlet and 25 outlet ports; or toy provide an uninterrupted.

free passage of air through the valve; or to provide a free passage of air through the valve with a safety valve in conjunction therewith to relieve any excess pressure from being applied 30 to the contents of the barrel, and upon operation of the safety valve, the closing of the inlet port; or to provide closing of the inlet port and maintaining a limited pressure on the. contents of the barrel; or to provide closing of the inlet and safety valve ports and forming an open connection between the outlet port and a port/ exposed to the atmosphere to permit venting of the barrel when so desired; or to provide closing all ports except the outlet port and a bypass port. 4 My invention will be further readily understood from the following description and claims and from the drawings, in which latter:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation. of my improved device, shown in connection with a beer tapping mechanism, being partly broken away. i Fig. 2. is a longitudinal section view of the tap and one form of my improved control valve. 'Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section view of another form of .my improved control valve.

Figs. 4, 5, 6, '7 and 8 are detail sectional views,

showing the various positions of the valve for accomplishing various results.

Fig. 9 is a side view of the modified valve.

55 Fig. 10 is a detail section of the valve, taken in the plane of the line Ill-I of Fig. 9, and;

Fig. 11 is a detail section, taken on the line ll'-I| of Fig. 9.

Under the present conditions when more than one barrel is on tap, they/are all connected to the same air line with a result that all barrels receive the same pressure. Due to the carbonation of the fluid one barrel will dispense with the desired foam while other barrels will dispense with too much foam or not enough foam. With my improved control valve the pressure on each barrel can be controlled by providing a valve adjacent to each tap which can be set for the proper ,pressure on each barrel and will automatically close the inlet port when the given is pressure is reached, thus various pressures can. be applied to any number of barrels connected to the same air line.

Beer or other beverages which are contained in barrels or casks are usually cooled by means of a coil extending either through or about a suitable .refrigereant whereby the beverage passing from the barrel to the dispensing faucet passes through the cool coils for serving the beverage cold. Many beverages leave deposits in the coil which require periodic cleaning in order that clear untainted beverage may be,

served. I The cask or barrel containing the beverage is usually located either in the basement or at a point below the dispensing faucet which requires a pressure to be applied to the head of the liquid for forcing the liquid up to the dispensing faucet. ,IIhe usual construction now being employed' for the purpose of tapping: the barrel comprises a tap ll having suitable meansifor locking the tap to the barrel as indicated at l2.

This tap has an air inlet opening l3 and a draft tube l4 extending through the tap and down into the barrel IS. The tube I4 is lockedto 40 the tap as indicated at l6 for sealing the tube to the tap. A valve I! usually inserted betweenthe tube I4 and the coil l8, forms a connection between the coil and the tube and'also permits shutting off the supply of liquid in the barrel. 45,

The liquid in the barrel is forced up through the tube I4 by air pressure received through the inlet l3 and down around the tube l4 td the head of the liquid. The parts thus far described are in common usage, at the present time and I do not wish to confine myself to their particular construction as any suitable tapping device can be used with my improved mechanism wherein air under pressure is applied to the head of liquid in the container. 65

Under present conditions when more than one barrel is on tap, they are all connected to the same air line with a result that all barrels receive the same pressure. Due to the carbonation of the fluid one barrel will dispense with the desired foam while other barrels will dispense with too much foam or not enough foam. With my improved control valve the pressure on each barrel can be controlled by providing a valve adjacent to each tap which can be set for the proper pressure on each barrel and will automatically close the inlet port when the given pressure is reached, thus various pressures can be applied to any number of barrels connected to the same air line.

This control valve is indicated at 20 in'Figs. 1 and 2 and comprises a housing 21 having a suitable inlet port 22 and outlet port 23. There are suitable connections on each end of the valve for connecting the valve to the usual air line 24, which supplies air or gas under pressure from either a suitable compressor or a tank of carbonated gas through the valve to the tap. Extending outwardly from the air inlet port in a tubular housing 25 arranged to receive a suitable check-valve 26 therein and having threads on the outer circumference thereof for receiving a suitable coupling nut 21 for securing the air line 24 to the valve housing. A threaded portion 28 about the outer end of the outlet port is arranged to be received in a threaded projection 29 of the tap II. A port 33 opens into the port 23 and has a. safety valve 3I arranged to close the port 30 and slidable in a bore 32 and held under pressure by a spring 33 received between the valve and a threaded plug 34 which is ad-f justable to increase or decrease the pressure on the valve 3|. A stem 35 extends upwardly from the valve and through the plug.

In the inlet opening 22 there is a cross bore 33 extending upwardly and a portion of the bore being of increased size as indicated at 31. A plug 33 is threaded in the upper end of the bore. A sliding valve}! is received in the bore 35 and has a collar 40 slidable in the bore 31. A spring 4| of suflicient strength to lift the valve is received between the collar 43 and a shoulder 42. A

' passage 43 connects the bore 32 with a. compression chamber 44 above the collar 43. A second passage 45 connects the pasmge 43 with the bore 32 above the valve 3i when the valve is in closed position. The valve 39 has an opening 46 arranged to coincide with the port 22 when the valve is open to permit a free passage of air under pressure to pass through to the port 23.

Pivoted to a lug 41 extending upwardly from the. housing as'at 48 is a rocker arm 49 having one end contacting with the valve stem 35 and the other end contacting an upwardly extending stem 53 of the valve 33. The upper end of this stem has flat faces 5I received between depending lugs 52 on the rocker arm to prevent the valve 39 from rotating. This rocker arm aids in operating the shut off valve and can be used without the air pressure and acts as a fulcrum. In the operation of my improved valve and assuming a pressure of twenty pounds is supplied from the main air line and it is desired to have twelve pounds of pressure on one barrel and sixteen pounds on the other barrel, the safety valve is set on each barrel for the given pressure by adjusting the plug 34. As soon as the pressure in the barrels reaches the given pressure the valve II will raise permitting the pressure to cscape through the passage 43 to the chamber 44 forcing the collar 43 down for closing the inlet port 22. This action is aided by the rocker arm for making the action positive. If through the carbonation of the fluid in the barrel the pressure increases, the valve 3I will raise still higher to open the vent 53 permitting the excess pressure to escape to the atmosphere. As the valve 39 moves down the air trapped there below escapes through a small opening 54 in the base of the bore 35, and an opening 55 below the collar 40. When the pressure in the barrel is reduced through the drawing of fluid therefrom or otherwise, the valve 3I closes, opening the passage 45 permitting the air in the chamber 44 to escape and the cut-ofl valve will raise to the position shown in Fig. 2, opening the inlet port 22.

In the device shown inFigs. 3 to 11 inclusive I have incorporated my improved control valve with the valve set forth in my co-pending application heretofore referred to. In this construction like parts are indicated by similar reference numeral raised to the series I00.

Under present conditions when it is desired to clean the coil, the air to the opening I3 is shut off and the valve I! closed to prevent the liquid from passing up through the tubes, but considerable liquid remains in the coil which is often 75 or 100 feet in length, and when disconnected from the valve IT is drained from the coil and is usually a complete loss to the proprietor. With my improved form of valve, the liquid in the coil can be returned to the barrel by setting the valve to the position shown in Fig. 8 whereby the pressure on the fluid in the barrel escapes; or the valve maybe set to a position as shown in Fig. 3 whereby all the ports will be closed, thus preventing pressure being applied to the liquid;

or the valve may be set to a position as shown incoming air is shut ofl! with the safety valve I connected to the port leading to the barrel to relieve excessive pressure on the liquid.

The valve housing I2I is provided with a tapered bore 33 in which a. valve 6| is received and heldsther'ein by means of a nut 62 received over a threaded end 33 of the plug. The plug is provided with suitable openings 64, 65 and 36,

all of these openings being interconnected for permitting air to pass from one opening to the other, depending on the position of the valve.

Thevalve housing is provided with a plurality of ports having a main inlet port I22, an outlet port I23, a relief port 61 to the atmosphere, 8 port I 33 to the safety valve and a by-pass port 68. The valve plug is turned to the desired position by means of a handle 63 secured to the plug and having a pointer 10 integral therewith and arranged to indicate the position of valve by registering with suitable marks on the valve housing indicated at II, I2, 13, I4, I5 and I3.

Thus in the operation of this valve when the valve plug is in the position shown in Fig. 3 and the pointer 13 registering with the mark I2 all of the ports in the housing will be closed for preventing air under pressure to escape from the port I23. In the event it is desired to omit the use of the automatic shut on means, the

valve is turned to the position shown in Fig. 4 with the pointer 19 registering with the mark II, and in this position ,the port 55 will reglster with the outlet port I23 and the port 64 will relieving the pressure on the fluid, thus perthe barrel.

register with the by-pass port for permitting the air coming into the valve to pass into the by-pass passage ll through the valve plug to the, tap; or, it may bedesired to pass the air through the inlet port I22 through port 66 and out 'of the port 64 to the outlet port I23, such arrangement is shown in Fig. 5 in which case the pointer I9 will register'with the mark 13; or, it may be desired to use the safety device and automatic shut off valve, in which case the valve plug is turned with the pointer Ill registering with the mark 14. In this position the port 64 will register with the port I23, the port 65 registering with the port I39 and the port 66 registering with the port I22, as shown in Fig. 6.- This arrangement is used when more than one barrel of beer has connections with a single air supply source and it is desired to regulate the pressure applied to the respective barrels. Thus the valve plug I35 can be set to a given pressure as indicated on a gauge 18 and when the pressure on the fluid in the barrel reaches the limit to which the valve I3I is set it will cause the valve to raise for permitting the air to pass through the port I43 for aiding in closing the valve I39 for shutting off the air pressure to the barrel. After a certain quantity of the liquid is drawn from the barrel and the pressure thereon decreased, the valve I3I will again close, opening the valve I39. 1 a

In cases where the fluid in the barrel is of such a nature due to chemical reactions therein, causing it to build up a pressure of its own, and it is desired to set the .valve so that this pressure may be relieved before it becomes excessive to cause damage to the equipment, the valve can be set to a position as shown in Fig. 7 wherein the pointer registering with the mark I5 and the port 64 registering with the outlet port I29 and the port 65 registering with the safety valve may be set to the position shown in Fig. 8 in which position the -pointer- 19 will register with the mark I6 and the port 64 will connect the ports I23 and 61 whereby the air under pressure in the barrel can escape to the atmosphere for mitting the fluid in the coil to drain back into The coil can then be disconnected from the valve I1 and cleaned without the loss of any of the beverage.

The valves 39 and I39 may valves by merely pushing downwardly on the stems 59 and I59 to release the flats 5| and I5I from the lugs 52 and I52, and turning the valves a. half turn to close the ports 22 and I22.

It will be apparent from the foregoing de-" I scription that I have devised a valve construc-.

1 tion that overcomes many defects inthe present systemof dispensing fluid and while 'I have shown the preferred form of the same, I do not wish to restrict myself to am! specific details beyond that, required by the scope of the appended claims.

1.Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim as new and'desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A beer tapping control mechanis'm'comprising a housing, an air passage through said housing, an adjustable safety valvein said housbe used as shutoff sageway, and means controlled by said air through said safety valve for closing said passage.

2. A beer tapping control mechanism comprising a housing, a passageway through said housing, a safety valve in said housing having a port connecting with saidpassage, a second valve in said passage and means interconnecting said valves whereby operation of said safety valve actuates said second valve.

3. A beer tapping control mechanism comprising a housing, a passageway through said housing, a safety valve in said housing having a port connecting with said: passageway, a pressure valve in said housing for closing said passageway, a port connecting said safety valve with said pressure valve whereby upon raising of said safety valve said air under pressure will operate {said pressure valve for closing said passageway.

4. A beer tapping control mechanism comprising a housing, a passageway through said housing, a safety valve having a port connecting with said passageway, a pressure valve insaid housing for closing said passageway, a port connecting said safety valve with said pressure valve whereby upon raising of said safety valve the air under pressure will operate said pressure valve for closing said passage, and means for recontact with said valves.

6. A beer tapping control mechanism comprising a housing, a passage through said housing, a safety valve having a port connecting with said passage, a shut off valve in said housing for closing said passage, a rocker arm connecting said valves whereby upon raising of said safety valve said shut off valve will close said passage.

-'7. A beer tapping control mechanism comprising a housing, a passage thraugh said housing, a safety valve having a port connecting with said passage, a shut off valve in said housing for closing said passage, a rocker arm connectingsaid valves whereby upon raising of said safety valve said shut off valve will close said passage and means for returning said valves to normal position uponredu'ction of pressure in said passage.

8.,In a beer tapping control mechanism the combination of a housing, a valve in said housing comprising a plug having a plurality of connected openings, a plurality of ports in said housing comprising an inlet and outlet port and safety valve port about said valve plug, said safety valve port provided with a safety valve and means operable through the action of said safety valve for closing said intake port.

9. In a beer tapping control mechanism the combination of a housing, a valve in said housing comprising a plug having a plurality of connected openings, a plurality of ports in said housing about said valve plug comprising an inlet and outlet port, another port provided with a safety valve, a valve in said inlet port and means operable through the action of said safety valve for closing said, intake port valve.

11. In a beer tapping control mechanism the combination of a housing, a central opening through said housing, a valve plug in said central openings, a plurality of ports in said housing about said valve plug, comprising an inlet and outlet port, a port open to the atmosphere, a safety valve port and a by-pass port, a safety valve in said safety valve port, a shut ofl valve in said intake port operable through the action of said safety valve.

WILLIAM BUIRK. 

